Abbé de Rancé

Armand Jean le Bouthillier de Rancé (January 9, 1626 Paris – October 27, 1700 Soligny-la-Trappe), abbot and founder of the Trappist Cistercians.

He was originally intended for the Knights of Malta. The illness of his older brother caused his father to dedicate him to ecclesiastical service, in order to preserve in the family the former numerous benefices. Hence when ten years old he was commendatory abbot of La Trappe and two other abbeys, prior of two priories, and canon of Notre-Dame de Paris, which gave him a revenue of about 15,000 livres. At twelve he published a translation of Anacreon with Greek notes. He went through his course of theological studies with great distinction, and in 1651, he was ordained priest by his uncle Victor Le Bouthillier, the Archbishop of Tours, and embarked on a career as a court abbot.

In 1652 his father died, leaving him a further increase in estate. At the age of twenty-six he was thus left with practically unlimited wealth. His uncle, who desired him as coadjutor, made him archdeacon, caused him to be elected deputy of the second order to the General Assembly of the French Clergy in 1655, and had him appointed first chaplain to Gaston, Duke of Orléans, in 1656.

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